No more hand-outs, says Hogan - before giving Morgan a hand-out

Hulk admitted that he made a mistake with how he treated Sting and apologised, extending the hand of friendship. The two shook hands in the middle of the ring, and then vowed to work together to eliminate Aces & Eights - with a big six man tag match next week. Is that really going to get the job done?

As Hogan declared that he also needed to make a decision about who would be challenging Bully Ray for the world title at the upcoming Slammiversary XI show, an incensed Matt Morgan - and his mighty beard - marched down to the squared circle to insist that he should be the man to get the shot.

In light of his recent ‘mistakes’ with Bully Ray, Hogan declared that there would be “no more handouts”, and that whoever went on to face the champion would have “earned” the opportunity. He then announced a number one contenders match between Morgan and Sting for the main event of the show.

What The Blueprint had done to actually earn a number one contender opportunity, other than repeatedly goad the Hulkster, remained unclear as the segment ended.

Chris Sabin defeats Zema Ion and Sonjay Dutt

After a Rocky-esque training montage reminded viewers of Chris Sabin’s two ACL tears and 24 months of rehab (who doesn't like a montage, after all?), the former Motor City Machine Gunner returned to Impact Wrestling to a big crowd reaction to compete for a shot at the X Division title.

In a dominant return, Sabin - who has used the time off to both strengthen his knee and grow out his hair - picked up the win in a three way match against Zema Ion and Sonjay Dutt with a very impressive version of a Michinoku Driver.

It’s great to have Sabin back in TNA and his return as a singles competitor should really hot up the X Division. Let’s just hope he can avoid any further injury.

Welsh muscleman Rob Terry, who has been afforded countless opportunities already by TNA to shine as a singles star, is once again getting the big push - this week, the big man from Swansea rolled over this hilarious trio of bros and gigolos in quick succession, hitting his spinebuster (now known as the ‘Beast Bomb’) on Ryan to get the duke.

It was another uninspiring and plodding affair from a man that unquestionably has the look, but just doesn’t seem able to make that all-important connection with the crowd.

Roode, Aries and Bad Influence exchange “spoiler alerts”

Another week, and another excellent sparring match took place between quite possibly TNA’s four most talented talkers.

Bobby Roode and Austin Aries came to the ring to address their former Fortune teammates for inadvertently costing them the tag team titles last week. Presenting a unified front despite “barely liking each other” (Aries’ words, not mine), the team of world champions said that they continued to be successful due to being focused on a common goal.

Not taking too kindly to being on the receiving end of an ear-bashing, the “hypnotic and erotic” (Daniels’ words, not mine) tandem of Kazarian and Christopher Daniels marched to the ring to accuse Roode and Aries of being a “pale imitation” of Bad Influence, and to reveal a “spoiler alert” that they would be the next tag team champions.

Roode hit back with a spoiler of his own: that he would do whatever it took to win the titles once again. Unperturbed, the increasingly-charismatic Kaz shot back with the following: “You can’t defeat us, you can’t outcheat us, and you can’t out us us”. It’s hard to argue with that logic.

As things continued to get heated between the four, reigning tag champs Chavo Guerrero and Hernandez came out to reveal that in next week’s number one contenders match between the two teams, there would be a special referee - Cowboy James Storm.

Right on cue, Storm made his way down the ramp, sporting his new t-shirt bearing the slogan ‘I drink beer with your mom while your dad watches’. Something tells me that shirt is going to be very popular with wrestling fans.

Kurt Angle beat D-Lo Brown in an I Quit match

Earlier in the night, an angered Bully Ray had addressed his Aces & Eights comrades, claiming angrily that Kurt Angle had been “a thorn in this club’s ass since day one”. Sounds painful.

Imploring a member of his gang to step up and take care of the problem once and for all, Aces & Eights’ vice president, D-Lo Brown, pushed back Garrett Bischoff and Wes Brisco and declared that he would get the job done. Brown was so confident of victory, in fact, that he even swore his colours that he’d have his hand raised in victory.

In a rare in-ring appearance for the former WWE Intercontinental and European champion, D-Lo challenged Angle to an I Quit match. With Impact taking place in Indiana, Pennsylvania, very close to Angle’s hometown of Pittsburgh, Angle received a hero’s welcome from the local crowd, and readily accepted the challenge.

Almost immediately, members of Aces & Eights - led by Mr. Anderson - descended on ringside to watch the action. Their appearance allowed Brown to take advantage of a distracted Angle, as the match turned into a slow, methodical trading of submission holds between the pair, with referee Brian Hebner repeatedly poking a microphone in the grapplers’ faces hoping to hear the crucial words.

In the closing moments of the bout, Angle hit six German suplexes in succession on Brown, who refused to give up. It was an impressive sight to see, but also difficult to watch without cringing in light of Angle’s numerous past neck issues.

After reversing a powerbomb attempt from Brown, Angle locked in the ankle lock tight, and with nowhere to go, Brown first tapped out and was then forced to scream “I Quit” loudly to end the match.

Disappointed members of Aces & Eights looked on at their vice president from ringside, and an incensed Bully Ray, backstage, said that he would deal with D-Lo Brown next week. Sounds ominous.

AJ Styles is given (yet another) ultimatum

AJ Styles continues to be asked to choose a side in the battle between TNA and Aces & Eights. Over the past month, James Storm, Christopher Daniels, Mr. Anderson and Hulk Hogan have all tried to get an answer out of Styles, who has remained mute throughout.

This week, it was the turn of Kurt Angle, who appealed to Styles’ vanity by stating that “you’re the reason I came to TNA” before asking him to join up with him and Sting in the big six-man tag match against Bully Ray, Devon and Mr. Anderson next week. No answer was given, so the saga continues...

Mickie James and Taryn Terrell defeat Gail Kim and Tara

In a fair Knockouts match, the always-smiling Taryn Terrell rolled up Tara for a quick pinfall victory to continue her recent winning streak. This came after partner Mickie James had been double-teamed for much of the match.

After the bout, Kim and Tara attacked their opponents, with Kim carrying out a vicious assault on Terrell which culminated in the move made famous by Bret Hart - the figure-four leglock wrapped around the ring post. No doubt the Hitman would be proud.

ODB was once again the special referee for this Knockouts contest, and continues to wear her unique attire which features two black handprints on her ‘assets’. It’s unlikely that Earl Hebner will be following suit anytime soon.

Sting beats Matt Morgan to become the number one contender

Sting may need a new finisher

In the show’s main event, Matt Morgan came to the ring to square off against Sting, sporting Hogan’s famous Shea Stadium robe that he stole from the Hulkster many months previously.

The cocky Morgan, and his mighty beard, took control for much of the match - which quickly spilled to the outside - and proceeded to taunt Hogan throughout the short scrap, which almost ended after Morgan hit the Carbon Footprint on Sting for a close two-count.

It was not to be Morgan’s night, however, and after first escaping a weak-looking Scorpion Deathlock, the Stinger applied his patented submission hold once again in the middle of the ring and locked it in for the second time, which resulted in Morgan seemingly passing out from the pain as the referee called for the bell.

While it was no surprise to see Sting’s hand raised in victory at the end of this one (it was hard to imagine Bully Ray vs Matt Morgan as the headline attraction of an upcoming pay-per-view), the way in which he picked up the win was surprising.

It’s not the first time that a match has ended in such a way - Steve Austin’s gutsy and career-making WrestleMania defeat at the hands of the same move by Bret Hart immediately springs to mind - but it just wasn’t believable that a giant like Morgan would pass out in under a minute from a hold that he had just easily escaped from.

Match of the night:

It could have done with longer to build the drama, but Kurt Angle’s I Quit victory offered a rare chance to see D-Lo Brown in singles action, and ended in surprisingly clean fashion. We’ll have to wait until next week to find out what such a loss now means for Brown’s future in the gang.

Memorable moment:

The return of Chris Sabin after almost a year away from Impact Wrestling. Quite rightly, the multiple-time X Division champion received a great reaction from the crowd for his comeback.

Star of the show:

Again, it has to be Sabin, who looked great and managed to make it through an entire match without tearing an ACL. If he can remain injury-free, his addition to the X Division will make a very big difference.

* Ben Veal is the Editor of www.collarandelbow.com, a website that offers news, reviews and exclusive interviews from the world of professional wrestling. You can follow him on Twitter at @BenVealPR